A CALL TO PRAYER AND FASTING FOR ISRAEL ON JANUARY 15!

”A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. They say, ‘Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!’ For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant.” (Ps 83:1-5)

On January 15th, representatives from 70 different countries will gather in Paris, France for an unprecedented global conference. The stated goal of this conference is to promote a “two-state solution,” as the way that lasting peace will be brought to the Middle East.

In Israel, there is a tremendous amount of concern that whatever is agreed upon at this conference will immediately be used as the basis for a UN Security Council resolution that would permanently divide the land of Israel and create a Palestinian state. But things would have to move very rapidly in order for that to happen, because Barack Obama’s time in the White House comes to an end on January 20th, and Donald Trump has already made it exceedingly clear that he would never support such a resolution. They have therefore already scheduled a meeting with the UN Security Council for January 17, three days before Obama leaves office. Look at a video here by Netanyahu’s personal adviser Dore Gold about the danger Israel is now facing in Paris, on January 15.

The UN Security Council resolution that was passed on December 23 made all Israeli settlements in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem illegal, it set the 1967 ceasefire lines as the border between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and it granted every single inch of East Jerusalem to the Palestinians. These decisions can never be revoked without an absolute majority in the Security Council, which is very unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future. But it stopped short of giving official UN Security Council recognition to a Palestinian state, and that is why this conference on January 15th is so important.

Mahmoud Abbas promised in his three hour-long victory speech when he recently was reelected as chairman of Fatah, that in 2017 the international community will grant the Palestinians their own state without any negotiations with Israel. Sweden was the first nation in the West to recognize a Palestinian state and during January Sweden is chairing the UN Security Council. The stage is set for another international, diplomatic attack against Israel.

One year before WWII, an international conference was held in Evian in France to discuss the dangers facing the Jewish people in Hitler’s Germany. Not one nation, except Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, was willing to receive any Jews to help them escape the Holocaust. Right now there is not one nation in the world defending Israel in the UN against the danger of another genocide, this time from Islam. We must stand in the gap and pray!

We therefore together with other leaders in the nations call for a day of fasting and prayer on January 15 for Israel and the conference in Paris!

At a recent press briefing, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said that Secretary Kerry holds the conviction that “it is his duty in his remaining weeks and days as secretary of state to lay out what he believes is a way towards a two-state solution,” and that “it’s always important to keep the process moving forward.”

If Kerry’s plan is embraced by the conference in Paris, it is anticipated by many that it would serve as the basis for a UN Security Council resolution that would formally create a Palestinian state on January 17, before Donald Trump is inaugurated on January 20th.

A spokesman for Netanyahu claimed to have “ironclad evidence” that the Obama administration had plotted behind the scenes to promote the UN resolution. Israel has said it will present evidence against the Obama administration to the incoming Trump team.

The betrayal of Israel by Obama is much deeper than most people realize. Both US Secretary Kerry and the US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro stated clearly before the vote on December 23, that the US would not allow any resolutions against Israel in the UN Security Council. Yet this is exactly what they did. Now Obama has promised that he will not allow any more resolutions against Israel before he finishes his presidency. Well, they lied before the decision on December 23 and it is very likely that they are lying now as well.

It looks like Obama actually could try to get a Palestinian state created before he leaves office on January 20th. America has been warned for many years that the US will also be divided if the land of Israel is officially divided into two states. After eight years of Obama, America already stands more divided than ever. It is written, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste.” (Mt 12:25)

How Can We Pray?
We have in earlier writings given the following important reasons why we should pray against “a two-state solution”:

The Creator if the universe has made an eternal covenant with the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to give them the whole Land of Israel. Ps 105:7-11

The LORD God has especially promised to give them the mountains of Israel, of which 80% are within the territory that the world has now given to a Palestinian state. It is this territory that is the very heart of Israel. Ez 36:6-12

God will judge all nations for dividing his Land. Joel 3:1-2

The “two state solution” means “Auschwitz borders” for Israel which are impossible to defend and it therefore constitute the greatest threat to the survival of Israel.

The “one state solution” under Israeli sovereignty will bring about the greatest blessing for both Jews and Arabs. No Arabs in the world have more freedom and democratic rights than the Arabs in Israel.

The LORD has promised to bring the counsel of the nations to nothing and to frustrate the plans of the nations. Ps 33:10-11

He has promised to watch over Jerusalem and make it a heavy stone. All who try to lift it will be “cut in pieces”. Zec 12:3 (KJV)

God’s Name will be glorified in all the earth when he frustrates the plans of the nations and instead enlarges the borders of Israel. Isa 26:15, Mt 6:9

God has said that he will restore Israel in answer to prayer. Ez 36:37

If we ever needed to pray Psalm 83 it is now!

”A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. They say, ‘Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!’ For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant.” (Ps 83:1-5)

We need to pray that God will arise and defend Israel! This does not necessarily mean that He will stop all resolutions against Israel in Paris or in the UN, because we know that the whole world will turn against Israel and God will actually use this for His glory.

But we can pray that secret, crafty plans laid against Israel that are not in line with God’s will, will be foiled. God has promised to foil the plans of the nations. We need to pray now like David did when Absalom turned against him and David found out that Ahitophel had joined the rebellion, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” (2 Sa 15:31) Even though David could not avert the rebellion against him, God answered his prayer about the counsel of Ahitophel, which turned the tide against him and saved his life. Let us pray that God will foil every crafty counsel against Israel in Paris and in the UN that is not His will! Read 2 Samuel chapter 15!

Most of all, we need to pray for courage, unity, strength and wisdom for the government of Israel how to deal with the present danger. It is written that during the time of David, there were men in Issachar “who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” (1 Ch 12:32) This is what Israel needs right now! This also includes praying for a good working relationship between Israel and the new Trump administration. President-elect Donald Trump also needs our prayers right now!

We need to pray that the leaders in Israel will fear God instead of the nations because, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” (Ps 111:10) “And all the nations of the earth will gather against [Jerusalem]. … Then the [governors] of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the Lord of hosts, their God.’” (Zech 12:3,5)

Finally, we need to praise the LORD and proclaim His victory! Psalm 83 has applications for our time. But the first fulfillment of the psalm came during the war against Jehoshaphat from Moab and Ammon described in Second Chronicles 20. In that dangerous situation Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast and he prayed, “And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir … coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Ch 20:10-12)

The Spirit of God came upon one of the descendants of Asaph and he prophesied, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them.’” (v. 15-16)

Jehoshaphat said, “’Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.’ And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: ‘Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.’ Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.” (v. 20-22)

The battle was not theirs but God’s. That did not mean that they did not have to do anything. They still had to humble themselves before God, seeking Him in prayer and fasting. They had to go down against the enemy in faith without fear and then they had to sing and praise the LORD. Then God gave them victory. This is also what we must do today for Israel!

“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment— This honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord!” (Ps 149)

“Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries; strap on your armor and be shattered; strap on your armor and be shattered. Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.” (Isa 8:9-10)

The situation is very dangerous and difficult right now, but we believe that 2017 will be a Jubilee year of breakthrough for Israel. Let’s thank the LORD for his faithfulness and His mercy!

This is a crucial time. All who long for the kingdom (Mk 15:43) need to pray right now as never before as watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem for God to arise and fulfill His promises to Israel.

“Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!” (Ps 33:8-12)

PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYER OVER THE FOLLOWING VERY IMPORTANT PRAYER POINTS!

• Pray that God will arise to defend Israel and show His mighty power!”A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. They say, ‘Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!’ For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant.” (Ps 83:1-5)“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!” (Ps 80:1-3)

• Pray that God will foil all plans against Israel in Paris and in the UN that are not in line with His will!“O Lord, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” (2 Sa 15:31)

• Pray for courage, unity, strength and wisdom for the government of Israel to do what is right without fear!“Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” (1 Ch 12:32)

• Pray that the Government of Israel will fear God more than the nations in order to make the right decisions!“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” (Ps 111:10)“And all the nations of the earth will gather against [Jerusalem]. … Then the [governors] of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God.’” (Zech 12:3,5)

• Thank and praise God for victory!“And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: ‘Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.’ Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.” (2 Ch 20:21-22)“Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment— This honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord!” (Ps 149:5-9)

• Pray that God’s holy Name will be glorified over all the earth by increasing Israel and extending her borders during 5777!”But you have increased the nation, O Lord, you have increased the nation; you are glorified; you have enlarged all the borders of the land.” (Isa 26:15)“But you, O mountains of Israel [Judea and Samaria], shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come home. … I will vindicate the holiness of my great name … I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.” (Ez 36:8, 23-24)

• Pray for a good working relationship between Israel and the USA during President Trump in order to defeat Islam!“The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart, and those who harass Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, and Judah shall not harass Ephraim. But they shall swoop down on the shoulder of the Philistines in the west, and together they shall plunder the people of the east. They shall put out their hand against Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites shall obey them.” (Isa 11:13-14)

• Pray that God will protect president elect Donald Trump from all attempts to assassinate him!“For I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. …let the wicked be put to shame; … Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.” (Ps 33:13-18)